MANAGEMENT OF LIVESTOCK DURING DISASTER IN INDIA

 

By-DR. RAJESH KUMAR SINGH, (LIVESTOCK & POULTRY CONSULTANT), JAMSHEDPUR, JHARKHAND,INDIA 9431309542, rajeshsinghvet@gmail.com

 

Natural disasters are a phenomenon that most people likely will face within their lifetimes. The type of natural disaster will vary depending on geographical location and can occur commonly in the form of wildfire, flooding, catastrophic windstorms or blizzards. The very thought of encountering such natural events certainly can be anxiety-inducing, especially when the management of horses and other livestock is considered. As with many things in life, the key to overcoming a challenging situation is through appropriate planning.

Acording to the United Nations “A disaster is an event that is concentrated in space and time and that subject a society to severe danger and such serious losses of human life or major material damage that leads to break down of local social structure and the society is unable to perform any or some of its key functions. India is the worst-affected country of disaster in the South Asian region. Drought, floods, earthquakes and cyclones devastate the country with grim regularity with worst affected are the poor and marginalized sections of the India. Unfortunately, poverty is most widespread in areas that are more vulnerable to natural disasters – the flood-prone regions of North Bihar, East Uttar Pradesh, North Bengal and NorthEastern region etc. Small, marginal and landless farmers own 70% of the total livestock which produce 62% of total milk production in India. These are the most affected population during natural disasters. Natural disasters cause scarcity of feeds, fodders and scenario becomes again worse due to inaccessibility and transportation difficulties of feeds and fodders.

 

Natural disasters in India

 

Floods

 

Nearly 75% of the total rainfall is concentrated over a short monsoon season of four months (June-September). As a result the rivers witness a heavy discharge during these months, leading to widespread floods. The most flood-prone areas are the Brahmaputra and Gangetic basins in the Indo-Gangetic plains. The other flood-prone areas are the north-west region with the rivers Narmada and Tapti, Central India and the Deccan region with rivers like the Mahanadi, Krishna and Kauveri. While the area liable to floods is 40 million hectares, the average area affected by floods annually is about 8 million hectares. The annual average cropped area affected is approximately 3.7 million hectares.

Floods are one of the most common natural disasters causing extensive damage to property, livestock, crops and human life. But animals are natural swimmers; therefore can escape drowning if they are not tied or caged. In an event of flood, the environment, drinking water and rivers become contaminated. The fear of outbreak of infectious diseases like tetanus, dysentery, hepatitis and food poisoning etc. becomes prominent with poor management.

Management during flood-

• Evacuate the animals rapidly to higher ground and check for injuries to be attended by a veterinarian
• Prevent the outflow of manure pits into rivers or even drinking water
• All local ponds and canals should be inspected for any obstruction
• Ensure that the animals are vaccinated for all infectious diseases
• The animals should be brought to safer places if the forecast of a disaster is beforehand. In flooded areas where drainage is slow, can be used for duck rearing and fish farming

Cyclones– Meteorologically, cyclone can be predicted with some accuracy. Hence the loss can be avoided through better preparedness of an event.

Management during flood-

• Cyclone shelters can be made to house animals away from the cyclonic area
• Animals should be shifter to higher grounds
• Stocking of concentrates and medicines
• Vaccination of animals
• Make provisions for early disposal of carcasses

 

 

The heavy deliberation of rainfall within a span of three months in most areas causes heavy run-off and heavy flooding. On the other hand dry conditions prevailing during the rest of the year, particularly in the arid and semi-arid regions, renders 68% of the total landmass at risk to drought. The drought impacted 56% of the land mass and threatened the livelihoods of 300 million people across 18 states.

 

Cyclones

 

The states most exposed to cyclone-related hazards, including strong winds, floods and storm surges, are West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu along the Bay of Bengal. Along the Arabian Sea on the west coast, the Gujarat and Maharashtra coasts are most vulnerable. On an average, about five to six tropical cyclones form in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea every year, of which two to three may be severe. Cyclones are most deadly when crossing the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal and Bangladesh, mainly because of the serious storm surge problem in this area. The impact of these cyclones is confined to the coastal districts, the maximum destruction being within 100 km from the centre of the cyclone and on either side of the storm track.

 

 

Earthquakes – 

 

Earthquake can cause damage to buildings, infrastructures, bridges, dams, roads and railways. Beside the scarcity of feed and fodders, contamination of water through seepage of drainage water produces great discomfort to the people and animals. Since in Indian scenario, the animals are mostly tied outside or kept in thatched sheds where chances of physical injuries are low. But when the animals are tied or caged their chances of escape is reduced.

Management during an Earthquake-

• Identify the safest place for shelter so that the animals can survive for 2-3 days   without any assistance
• Vaccinate the animals against tetanus or against most prevailing infectious disease
• All the farm tool and equipments and other objects that are heavy should be placed away from the wall and in rafters as they are likely to fall causing serious injury
• Persons taking care of the animals who are indoors should take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture and should stay away from objects that shatter like windows etc.
• A bolt cutter should be present in order to open gates during emergency
• Seek for veterinary and medical advice in case of emergency

 

Fifty-six per cent of India is prone to seismic activity. During the International Decade of Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR), India suffered the adverse impact of several earthquakes, north-eastern states, the Kutch region of Gujarat and Uttaranchal are the most vulnerable regions.

 

Drought-

Drought is a condition where there is shortage of precipitation for a sufficient longer period of time. The waters in rivers, streams and underground maybe lower than average causing hydrological imbalance. Drought results in shortage of feeds and fodders and the animal may remain in stress hence reducing their productivity.

Management during Drought–

• Early warnings help better preparations for drought mitigation strategies
• Early plans should involve veterinary health care institutions, water resources and disaster assistance to expand their services in times of need
• Provision for additional water supply in times of water shortages through repair of tube wells, cleaning of tanks, preparing for harvesting rainwater in tanks or large ponds. If not, most sources of the water which may be unclean by human standards may be utilized.
• Explore the use of conventional feed and fodder resources and encourage supply of molasses to cattle feed plants. Dry fodder reserves, urea molasses licks, bricks made of fodder urea and molasses etc. can be part of the stock pile.
• Implementing measures to stabilize fodder resources by using seed reserves and planting alternative drought resistant fodder crops
• Prevention of disease outbreak through better health management protocol

 

 

Tsunami

 

One of the most devastating disasters of the 21st century was the Asian tsunami that wreaked havoc in 11 countries on December 26, 2004. A tsunami is a series of ocean waves generated by sudden disturbances in the sea floor, landslides, or volcanic activity. In the ocean, the tsunami wave may only be a few inches high (typically 30-60 cm) but as they race onto shallow water regions their speed diminishes which results in increase in the height of the wave. Typical speeds in the open ocean are of the order of 600 to 800 km/hr.

 

Man Made Disasters – 

Among the Manmade disasters are hazardous when accidents with radiation occur.  This hazardous material may contaminate the environment and hence human food supply. Animals should be well protected from the source of radioactivity by evacuating them. A barrier between animals and radioactive sources can be used if needed eg. lead, iron, concrete or water etc. the community must be made aware of the dangers of radiation. Based on the clinical signs and symptoms, prompt treatment must be provided to persons. Consult a veterinarian in case of doubt. Water source should be covered temporarily with plastic sheets to avoid contamination.

Fire –

The incidence of fire in farms are much likely in household with thatch roof. Smoking in sheds to ward off pests and the proximity to straws can lead to accidental outbreak of fire. Animals that have been tied indoors are at more risk than the ones that are outdoors. The farm should take precaution and keep fire extinguishers in each animal house.

 

Difficulties and actions for disaster management in livestock:

 

1. Animal reactions when under duress. Disasters that stimulate nervous reactions, such as flash flood, wildfire and tornadoes, animal owners may see a behavioural pattern from their livestock that they are both unprepared and unable to handle. This is one reason why emergency disaster management directors limit how much time owners can have to address livestock. This delay may imperil the residents and secondarily first responders. The local emergency system may have an organized predetermined group of volunteers who are trained, equipped and coordinated to move into disaster areas to deal with livestock evacuation.
2. Access and transportation difficulties. Traditionally, livestock producers have the equipment, resources, experience and practice to move livestock under a variety of conditions. Newer rural residents may lack livestock movement equipment, or enough equipment to handle their livestock population. This often stems from an operational philosophy. Producers expect the need to move large animals between forage sites and then off site to a market on a regular basis. Animal evacuation from a disaster area must occur in a coordinated manner under the direction of the incident command team to allow success without impeding handling of the disaster and while protecting public safety.
3. Equipment and facility design risks. Any livestock handler will tell you that when stress and an emergency combine while moving livestock is when you will find every hole in the fence, every sharp edge on the equipment and every loose board on the trailer. Having properly designed and effectively maintained equipment and facilities are critical during disasters. Remember, you will be handling agitated livestock with an extremely limited time frame
4. Losing focus on the disaster event. The large amounts of stimuli and tension generated during disasters affect both humans and animals. Because people get so focused on 1 to 3 objectives they often fail to look around and notice the other things that are going on around them. Emergency responders get better at avoiding this problem with experience and training. Usually they follow a response guideline that reminds them to take in all the other factors. Although it’s not desirable for livestock owners to face so many disasters that they also develop this broad focus, there is one key approach that helps enhance safety in tense situations—teamwork. Take help and designate one person to keep watching for additional oncoming hazards.

 

Feeding management strategies during natural disaster

 

We have to use different approaches by taking into consideration following two objectives, 1)Primary objective: Feeding and management of livestock for their survival. 2)Secondary objective: Ensuring minimum level of production and growth especially during later phases of flood. Water management Animals can survive for many days without food but cannot survive for more than 3 to 4 days without water. In draught scenario is again worsened by unavailability of clean safe drinking water due to contamination by different natural and spoiled sources. So one should take into consideration following points intended for water management

1)Providing clean and safe water to the livestock

2)Priority should be given to lactating and pregnant animals over nonproductive stocks,

3)Water should be provided in small quantity and more frequently

4)Salt intake of the animal should be restricted.

Priority of feeding and watering

The priority of animals with different feeds and fodders should be in descending order as first suckling animals, then suckling with mother, producing and working animals, sick and old animals, and at last adult non producing animals. Feeds and feeding technologies to be used during disaster

1. Concentrate mixture supplement

Concentrate mixture as high energy sources have capacity to balance the ration. It is easy to procure less bulk material like concentrate from unaffected area which permits easy transportation and distribution among farmers.

2. Treatment of Straws

After harvesting the grain from the crop, the left portion is known as straw. Paddy straw constitutes the basal roughage of cattle and buffaloes in India. To minimize spoilage in the heavy rainfall areas of flood it can be stored on wooden or bamboo platform raised over the ground. The straws soaked in flood water may be fed when fresh after receding of flood water. However, to prevent its spoilage due to growth of moulds and fungi, it should be processed and preserved properly. The following methods can be used for the preservation and improvement of flood soaked straws.

1. Preservation:

 

Common salt can be mixed at a rate of 0.5 to 1.0% in soaked straw after squeezing the water. This prevents substantially the growth of moulds and fungi, and helps in the preservation of soaked straw for sometimes.

1. Sun drying:

In bright sun light soaked straw should be spread in thin layer and turned out with rakes. The drying can be done on dry ground or abandoned roads of flood affected areas and collected for storage when moisture content reduces to less than 15 %. c) Ensiling: Straw can be ensiled with other ingredients in kuchha or pucca silos, depending upon the availability of other ingredients. Straw may be either ensiled with (a) chaffed green fodder; (tree leaves/grasses/aquatic plants) and molasses with urea or (b) poultry litter, a little green fodders and molasses,

(c) pig excreta, green fodders and molasses etc.

4. d) Urea treatment: It is a very simple and effective technique to improve the utilization of poor quality roughages. Feeding of urea treated straw can meet the maintenance requirement without any concentrate supplement. Around 4.0 kg farm grade urea can be dissolved in 35-50 L water and this solution should sprinkle over 100kg straw. Tightly pack the urea treated straw with plastic sheets and kept for 7 days in summer and 15 days in winter and fed to animals by incorporating in animal’s diet gradually. It can be fed to animals @ 1 % of whole ration.
5. Sugarcane crop residue

Around 383 MMT of sugarcane bagasse produced annually in India. It contains CP < 3%, CF >45%, Total ash 4%, Digestibility 30%. The palatability and nutritional value of bagasse for the livestock (cattle and buffaloes) are much better than the rice hull. Feed formulations tried during the droughts of 1972-73 in Maharashtra The cattle relief camps were set up around the sugarcane factories located in the drought affected zones. Large scale feeding of bagasse, molasses in combination with urea and mineral supplements was adopted. The feed formulations developed through experimentation were tried on nearly 40,000 cattle without any detrimental effects

4.Compressed Complete Feed Block (CCFB)

CCFB has decreased bulk density (65Kg Vs 400Kg/m3) as compare to normally stacked feeds makes its handling, storage and transportation easy and economical having potential as a part of feed bank. CCFB can be made for different types of animals such as maintenance, growth and lactation to economize the purpose.

5. UMMB and UMLD

Compact blocks of UMMB can easily be stored, transported and distributed. The aim of UMLD is survival of animal by using low cost and simple method of feeding. Revival feeding after restricted feeding showed improved nutrient intake and body weight gain.

6. Forest by products

Besides common fodder, shrubs and herbs like pipal, neem, saura, tara, mango, kathal, etc. other non-toxic tree leaves may also be fed to farm animals to supply part of their nutritional requirements. The availability of digestible protein for most of the green tree leaves is limited to 1-2% and energy equivalent to 10-15% of total digestible nutrients, on fresh basis containing about 15% dry matter. They are potential sources of much needed carotene, the source of Vit. A activity.

7. Aquatic plants

Several types of aquatic plants ate available in river, pond and other water logging areas may be used for the feeding of farm animals. Although the palatability of most of the aquatic plants is not good but the voluntary intake often exceeds 1 kg dry matter per 100 kg body weight in cattle and buffaloes. Besides supplying protein and energy they are rich sources of carotenes. So far the common aquatic plants tested for the feeding of farm animals are water hyacinth, aquatic spinach, stalks and leaves of lotus plant (Nymphacae sp. and Neumbiull sp.), hydrilla, pistia, aquatic weeds and jugaIi paddy etc. They are available readily at moat of the places during floods.

8. Unconventional cakes and seeds

The utilisation of deoiled salseed meal, treated neem seed cake, nahar seed meal, tapioca waste, extracted tea leaves have already been tested. These feeds may be incorporated to supply about 10-30% dry matter requirement of farm animals. These unconventional feeds can also be used for the feeding of simple stomached pig and poultry during scarcity of costlier conventional feeds replacing limited proportion of conventional ingredients.

9. Fruit factory waste

The waste materials like pine apple wastes, orange peel, tomato pomace are found to be abundantly available which are wasted due to lack of proper utilization as animal feed. These can form a part of the diet of livestock after processing through ensiling.

10. Animal organic wastes

The north eastern region has a large potential of animal organic wastes contributed by excreta of farm animals and poultry, waste materials from slaughter houses, dead animal carcasses etc. The animal excreta are richer in crude protein content. But their use is limited due to the presence of pathogenic micro-organisms and ova of different parasites. So these can only be used through suitable methods. The recent proliferation of gobar gas plants and its projected expansion would be capable of utilizing huge quantity of animal organic wastes and other carbon wastes for the production of biogas. The residual slurry available regularly after 3-5 weeks of anaerobic fermentation has been found to be a moderately good source of microbial protein (Kamra and Pathak, 1980). The feeding of digested slurry in the diets of ruminants and pigs has already been demonstrated as a potential source of feed at Indian Veterinary Research Institute (Pathak et al. 1981).

 

Feeds not to be fed exclusively during such calamities

 

In the scarcity conditions animals do not get enough feeds for eating and they mostly pass through under fed conditions due to non-availability and scarce supply of feed-stuffs. At the end of such scarcity period, animals usually develop craving for food and uncontrolled eating behaviour. Thus, it is desired to be careful in feeding the farm animals after the flood water has receded.

1. Nitrate Poisoning

Newly growing grasses contain high concentration of nitrite and nitrate and they should be fed in small quantity mixed with dry roughages like paddy straw and wheat straw.

2. HCN Poisoning

It may result when sorghum its crosses are used at too immature stage or are severely stressed as by drought. New tree leaves contain high level of hydrocyanic acid. Due to its softness animals eat larger quantity and occasionally suffer from toxicity. Such tree leaves should not be fed as a sole ration and should be incorporated in straws for partial supply of nutrients.

 

Requirements of a Relief Camp

 

The estimated amounts of various feed stuffs required for the feeding of 1000 heads of cattle and buffaloes for one month period have been worked out for guidance: (A) Ration based on unconventional feeds and fodders etc.

Feed and fodder bank Creation of feed and fodder bank is a basic requisite for predisaster management. It includes,

1. Pasture improvement
2. Application of fodder conservation techniques
3. Management of stocking rates Promotion of seeds that flourish from the first irrigation
4. Introduction of drought-resistant and water logging tolerant plants varieties,
5. Crop residues from major cereals like rice & wheat straws, Coarse cereals, legumes, haulms, left after removing grains, grasses from periphery of forest area wastelands and farmlands may be harvested and stored as hay,
6. Gramin Feed and Fodder Bhandaran Yojna: Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation.

 

Managemental Strategies during a disaster

1. Evacuation is the best measure to prevent the animal from further suffering. Evacuation should be quick and rapid to rescue camps. Both destination and transport of animals while relocation should be coordinated in a way to preserve the health and welfare of animals.
2. Provision of a shelter depends upon the type of a disaster. For example, during cyclones the animals are safer outside than those sheltered. There is fear of inundation of water in sheds/houses during a flood. But during winters, heaters are located in areas with proper ventilation.
3. Feeding and watering of animals should be adequate such that it meets up the nutritional needs and well reduces illness. Availability of feeds and fodder during this time is very critical as there is a huge gap between the demand and supply. Promotion of fodder cultivation, seed distribution, utilization of non conventional feed sources such as urea, molasses, feed blocks, silage feeding must be done.
4. All animals rescued should be identified with some numbering, Data on total animal population and total animal rescued highlights the animal lost during a disaster
5. All injured animals should be promptly treated and antibiotics can be provided in case of susceptible illness. The animal health component includes appropriate nutrition, care of pregnant animals, care of new-born and young animal etc.
6. There is always a fear of disease spread in the herd. The risk can be avoided through mass vaccination programme of diseases like FMD, Haemorrhagic septicaemia, Anthrax, PPR, E. Coli etc. Some precaution on pest control along with proper hygiene and sanitation maybe followed
7. Many animals are likely to die in a disaster where disposal of dead animals becomes a problem. The problem is more acute during flood and cyclones. Never throw the body of dead animal in rivers and streams. The carcass should be burned or buried as per the protocol. Carcass utilization is one method where intermediate products like Meat meal, Bone Meal, calcium etc. can be produced as essential feed supplements. The technologies involve dry and wet rendering as cooking, sterilization, fat removal, drying and finally milling and bagging.
8. Another issue is the animal waste disposal. Dung of animals can be either used as manure or caked and dried for fuel. Where possible small manure gas units can be organised. Improper disposal leads to pest problems. Manure pits can be made by digging the earth and layered with lime regularly. During prolonged stagnation of flood water, duck rearing and fish farming can be considered as the means of pest control.
9. Veterinary doctors, Para veterinary staff and ancillary staff should help to set up temporary rescue camps in affected areas to reach to the sick, dying and injured animals. Control rooms are set up to exchange and co-ordinate veterinary support. Control rooms keep link with and co-ordinate supplies such as pain killer, sedatives, antibiotics, fracture equipments etc. from agencies.

• Many Goushalas in the country help in providing shelter to many sick,   uncared and old animals. They also play a major role in conserving the animal genetic resource of the country.

In order to educate the people of any unwarranted disaster, preparedness with mitigation strategies is the best method followed. Every state should involve them in forming a disaster management group through Animal Husbandry and Veterinary service department. The required field staff should be kept in constant readiness especially throughout the vulnerable months of the year. During lean period, the team should undertake preparedness and relief exercise to test their efficacy and preparedness. This will help develop a well coordinated working system.

Conclusion

Management of disaster to date has been reactionary rather than proactive and preventative and not sufficient to meet the challenge. Along with disease and epidemic management feeding technology applications like Conc. mix, urea treatment, UMLD, UMMB, CCFB are some of the alternatives to meet the challenges. Unconventional feeds and wastes also have capacity to mitigate the challenge. In this regard, integration of work among veterinarians with state and central local bodies is necessary.